Inside the Love Affair Between Hollywood and the Presidency

President John Kennedy and Frank Sinatra

As far back as 1930, when studio mogul Louis B. Mayer invited Calvin Coolidge to visit MGM, the entertainment industry has been attracted to D.C.'s power base as business concerns, political idealism and bragging rights beget an interwoven sphere of influence.

(Left) Lyndon Johnson: Suffering from Kennedy envy, President Johnson was delighted when he got his own campaign tune thanks to Carol Channing, who sang "Hello, Lyndon!" to the tune of "Hello, Dolly!" at the 1964 Democratic convention. To thank her, in 1967 he invited her to perform at the White House, where the two took a turn on the dance floor.